Title: War Horse Sculpture, Crafted from Purple Poppies, Revealed in Skegness
A life-sized war horse statue made from purple poppies has been made public at the Hildred’s Shopping Centre in Skegness. The statue is a tribute to the animals who served and made sacrifices during times of war. Named Hetty, the statue was created by the Skegness Academy students in association with the Royal British Legion. This project honours the approximately eight million horses, as well as donkeys, mules, dogs, and pigeons that had significant roles during World War One and in other battles.
Taya, a student of 17 years who was part of the project, expressed her sense of honour to be affiliated with this touching homage. “It’s significant to honour all veterans and animals,” she stated, remarking on the overall positive feedback received from the local people. Vikki Thompson, the Assistant Principal, praised the hard work and commitment revealed by the students, who meticulously attached thousands of gifted purple poppies to the statue.
Hetty, the war horse, was named in remembrance of the peace advocate, Hetty Bower, symbolising historical importance and the essence of community. The statue, having already attracted many visitors, will remain at the shopping centre until November, after which it will be returned to Skegness Academy. This venture not only serves as a lesson for the public about the role of animals during war, but it also displays the strong engagement of the Lincolnshire community.
This article was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reports provided by www.bbc.com.
